OpenAI, a prominent artificial intelligence (AI) developer, is reportedly in discussions with major news corporations, including CNN, Fox Corp., and Time, to license their news content. The purpose of these licensing talks is to utilize the media giants' content to enhance the training of OpenAI's AI chatbots, making them more accurate and up-to-date. OpenAI is specifically seeking licensing deals for articles from CNN to train its ChatGPT model, with discussions involving licensing text, video, and imagery from both CNN and Fox. Time's CEO, Jessica Sibley, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement that reflects the fair value of their content.


This move comes as OpenAI faces multiple lawsuits, including a significant one filed by The New York Times alleging copyright infringement. The NYT claims that OpenAI's use of its content in training is not fair use and poses a threat to its journalistic work. Another lawsuit was filed by authors Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage, arguing for compensation for using their work in AI training. OpenAI responded to the NYT's allegations, calling them without merit and emphasizing ongoing discussions with media organizations for content licensing and AI integration.

It's noteworthy that OpenAI's premium and enterprise models running ChatGPT-4, introduced in September 2023, have the capability to browse the internet and are not limited to the training timeline. The licensing initiatives with media companies are seen as a strategic move by OpenAI to proactively address potential copyright issues and collaborate with content creators for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Key Points:

  • Licensing Talks: OpenAI is reportedly in discussions with CNN, Fox Corp., and Time to license their news content for AI training purposes, aiming to enhance the accuracy and currency of its chatbots.

  • Content Usage: OpenAI is seeking licensing deals to use articles from CNN and explore the licensing of text, video, and imagery from both CNN and Fox in its AI training processes.

  • Optimism from Time: Time's CEO, Jessica Sibley, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with OpenAI that reflects the fair value of Time's content.

  • Response to Lawsuits: OpenAI is facing lawsuits, including one from The New York Times alleging copyright infringement. The company responded, calling the allegations without merit and highlighting ongoing discussions with media organizations for collaborations and partnerships.

  • Premium and Enterprise Models: OpenAI's premium and enterprise models running ChatGPT-4, introduced in September 2023, can browse the internet and are not limited to the training timeline.

  • Strategic Move: The licensing initiatives with media companies are viewed as a strategic move by OpenAI to address potential copyright challenges and foster collaborations with content creators.

Conclusion: OpenAI's engagement in licensing talks with major news corporations reflects a strategic approach to address potential copyright challenges and strengthen collaborations for AI training. These initiatives aim to ensure a more robust legal framework and avoid copyright infringement issues that have led to lawsuits. Collaborating with media giants could provide OpenAI with valuable content for training its AI models while establishing mutually beneficial partnerships.


(SAVANNAH FORTIS, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)